Thought I'd start a thread to keep all informed what's happenin in the Fractal Community every week.

I'm gettin the hang of some things finally, what I have access to and what I can edit and change without Blowin stuff up.

The Banners- I now have access and can add Banners to all Fractal related topics, Gallery, Forum and Showcase Window. The Gallery and Forum is setup to rotate the Banners on any Resresh cycle so I will add any new Banner into the List when it's posted in the Banner Swap Thread. The Showcase Window is different, not setup the same way but I can manually swap out the Banner so it won't stay the Same Banner all the time. The dimensions for the Gallery and Forum remain the 500x125 size but for the Showcase Window the dimensions are 800x125. I think it's cool to change up the Banners so keep adding those Banners to the Banner Swap thread and I'll keep'em changing.

For now the Fractal Showcase will be changed Monthly but if the Fractal Gallery becomes more active with Uploads I may change that to twice a month. That depends on you guys, the more uploads the more the selections for the Window, keep us busy I don't mind, Iterate Iterate Iterate.

There is still plenty of time to get an entry in for the Spring Fractal Challenge too, even if ya aint crazy about the Spring Theme drop one in anyway and if you win you can pick what YOU want for the next one.

If anyone runs across any cool Fractal related news, imagery, articles, animations, anything relating to Fractals drop into the Forum and start a thread and let us know about it..

Also were still looking for at least 1 Coordinator for the Fractals, someone IS going to fill the position that's not a problem but I sure would rather see someone in the Fractal Community get it, someone who knows Fractals are much more than just Backgrounds for something else if you know what I mean.

You still have time to make fractals, Len? ;-)
You're absolutely doing everything to get and keep the fractals going.
Great job. :-)

Geez, fractals are more than backgrounds?????? hehehehe

Corrie

You're doing a fantastic job Lenord! :thumbupboth:

We all owe you a debt of gratitude Len.  Awesome job you are doing

Happy belated birthday Lenord..hope you had a fantastic day!

Thursday the 26th

Remember the Spring Fractal Challenge closes and voting begins this coming Sunday night at Midnight so there is only a few days left to get an entry in.

The Renderosity Artist of the Month will be selected from the Fractals Community this time so get out the Vote go here AOM and vote for AOM

Still looking for a Coordinator so anyone interested contact me or KimberlyC

The Fractal Spring Challenge is now Voting be sure to vote for your favorite by going to Spring Challenge and vote for your choice. Voting will close Midnight Tuesday the 1st. I will announce the winner here Wednesday and in turn the Winner will be asked to select a Theme for the Next Challenge, which will open hopefully by the Weekend.

The Renderosity Artist of the Month is still in the Voting phase, the AOM is being selected from someone in the Fractal Community so be sure and Vote here AOM

A New Update on the Fractal Showcase Window will be in place Tomorrow, there were so many Images selected it will be a Jammed Showcase. Ya'll are just too good and the number of incredible images being highlighted makes a single Monthly Showcase really Big so if that number stays as it was last month I think we will go to a Twice a Month Showcase update.

LOL, I didn't know we could vote on the spring challenge, oh how stupid.

Thank you Len for all your efforts, it´s most appreciated here.

Greetings,

The May Fractals Challenge is Open Lost in Space

GREAT!

Thank you Len,  and Glenda of course.

We will look after what's been lost in space.

Best wishes to all !

:thumbupboth:

A new look version of Mandelbulb3D has been released by Jesse at FractalForums v1.7.9.6

http://www.fractalforums.com/index.php?action=downloads;sa=view;down=40

Some beta testing is needed because of compiler upgrading,
the changes belong to the intern light model, more options for the diffuse map,
panorama camera mode, stereo options.
Some issues should be solved, many new ones to find!

It is just the executable, you can take all directories with files from the previous version if you need them, or adjust the ini-dirs to the existing ones.

Notice: the new stereo options must be used from the same starting parameters to work properly, i will change this for an easier handling. For now you have to undo the parameters or reload default ones.

Thanks, Len. :-)

Still a little over a week left in the current Lost in Space Fractal Challenge, plenty of room for more entries.

Jesse at Fractal Forums has been Busy, a new Beta for MB3D was released V1.7.9.7b, some changes to Hard Shadows fading on the Lighting Panel, changes to Dynamic Fog a number of Bug Fixes etc. Keep in mind v1796 and 1797 are Beta's but I'm sure a major portion of the changes will become permament in future releases.

The current May Lost in Space Fractals Challenge will move into the Voting stage Wednesday morning so there are only a couple of days left to get an entry in.

Anyone wanting do do some Banners for either the Gallery, Forums or Showcase Window just add them to the Banner Swap Thread and I will get them into the Gallery and Forum Rotation, the Showcase I will update everytime the Showcase Window is Updated.

Forum and Gallery Banners are 500x125 and should Have either "Renderosity Fractals Forum" or "Renderosity Fractal Gallery" on them somewhere

Showcase Window Banners are 800x125 and should have Renderosity Fractal Showcase on them somewhere

Last Day for entries for the current Lost in Space Fractal Challenge, if you haven't entered and want to or have already but want to post a second entry now is the time to do it time is running out,  Voting will begin at 12:01 one minute after Midnight tonight.

The New Fractal Showcase Window for May is now up

Thank you for telling us, Len, it's much appreciated.

To all my congratulations!!!

( it was a great surprise for me, for being in, thank you ;-))

The Deep Sea Adventure Fractal Challenge for June is still accepting Entries, there is one week to go to get an entry in, the challenge will close midnight one week from today.

Jesse at FractalForums has released a New Beta version of MB3D, version 1.7.9.9, this version has included the Long Awaited Transparency Option. Keep in mind this is a Materials Transparency and not a Transparent BG PNG output like Apophysis.

I spent several hours playing with the New version last night, there is not much in the way of info on how the Transparency works but from what I've gathered using it, it works best with d.IFS formulas hence the option box to us the option to only on the d.IFS formulas when using d.IFS/Escapetime formulas in DE Combinates.

The Reflections have been changed also, I assume because Reflections and Refractions(Transparency) go hand in hand, different sides of the same card.

So far I have had no luck with getting any good effects with it, just haven't got it figured out yet but one thing I can say for sure is that Transparency Rendering makes Reflections look like Super High Speed, it is Slooooow.

The June Fractal Challenge is now in the Voting Stage, Voting will remain open until midnight Sunday, July the 1st.

Go here Deep Sea Adventure and Vote for your favorite Entry. Voting is open to all Renderosity Members, one Vote per Member.

The Fractal Showcase Window for June is now Up for anyone interested

Thank you, Len.
Also for all the good work, done by the Fractal-moderators!

Quote - Thank you, Len.
Also for all the good work, done by the Fractal-moderators!

That's Moderator singular, there is just me now, KimberlyC was promoted to Site Administrator and given other duties now. The Fractal community could use a Coordinator if anyone is interested.

So, all respect for you, Len! "Hats off" (as they say in The Netherlands).

btw, I am not suitable as a moderator.

Is there an explanation somewhere of what a moderator, coordinator and other staff do? I ask out of curiosity, because I can't devote more time to the site.

I did find a "Who's who" list under "About us" -> "Renderosity Team" (although I don't get the point of the "Forums" column versus the "Forum Moderators" picture area -- if one is a quick link for the other then they're out of synch, because they show different people).

There really is no difference between Forums and Gallery for any specific area so a Coordinator or Moderator is responsible for both the Gallery and associated Forum.  However different sections like Poser, Daz/Studio, Bryce etc. are more active in their Forum than most others so there are many more coordinators for those Groups. Coordinators assist the Moderator of the Group in overseeing the Gallery Contests and Forum. they also have options to move, delete, modify posts in the Galleries and Forum after a review of the questioned posting is brought to the Coordinators Forum for discussion. Moderators have even more accesses, it's their job to oversee the Coordinators, Gallery, Forum, to generate Forum threads of interest to that particular group, generate and manage Contests, Challenges, Change Banners all that good stuff.  Fractals is pretty easy to oversee, Fractaliers are pretty easy going people, not much need to worry about Images with Nudity, Violence or Sexual Content, you don't get a lot of advertising linking on images or fights in the forum over how to do things with the software.

The results of the June Fractals Challenge are in, Congratulations to the Top 3 and Bravo and well done to all who entered. See complete results http://www.renderosity.com/mod/contest/index.php?contest_id=1264

** 1st Place**
Entry #10 by fenixcats on June 20, 2012 7:29 pm

** 2nd Place**
Entry #11 by spiegel428 on June 23, 2012 5:22 pm

** 3rd Place**
Entry #1 by greyone on June 9, 2012 6:59 pm

The Theme for the next Challenge will be selected by fenixcats, please give me your choice of theme as soon as you can so I can get the next Challenge up and running.

Thanks to all for participating in another close chllenge.

Wish I had more time Lenord to offer you some much needed help but my time doesn't have any room for more responsibilities at this point.If it changes I'll contact you post haste....You are doing a most fantstic job and my hats off to your dedication and sorry to hear your going this alone but look at it this way....less cooks in the kitchen usually produce less chances of the food being served cold....(smiles)..

Like I said if my schedule changes in anyway I'll contact you....

The July Fractals Challenge has been Posted and is Open for Submissions as of Now

The Theme selected by the June Challenge Winner Fenixcats is that Summer Passtime the "PICNIC"

PICNIC
 

I always try to make the Challenge Display image to fit the Theme for the Challenge. I guess you can tell when I think of Picnics I don't think about Romance, Fun or Comfort Food...I just think about all those Pests that try to turn that Picnic into a Nightmare.

LOL!
I hear you on that, Len. :-D
A challenging challenge. :-)

Corrie

Well, thank you Len and Fenixcats for the theme.

What would be a fractal-picnic...??? We'll see what we can do ;-)

:D

Yeah, this should be a real challenge and very interesting.

Thanks so much for the Fractal Window.  I know how much work it is, and you are doing a great job!  I am so excited to be included this month :)

~Viv

The New Fractal Showcase Window for July is now Up

Thank you Len, also for doing su much work again!

It's a beautiful selection, congratulations everyone.

(I'm pleasantly surprised for being in, thx!)

The new Fractal Showcase Window is now up, the Staff Picks for September

September Fractals Showcase

Some beauties!

Thanks, Len.

Corrie

Also don't forget to vote in the September Fractals Challenge, open for voting now

Flora of the Jungle or Rainforests

I voted yesterday. :-)

Quote - I voted yesterday. :-)

Me too :)

New Fractal Showcase Window is now up October Showcase

Good pics, Len.
Gorgeous images.

Corrie

November Fractals Themed Challenge is now OPEN Insects

Karel couldn't think of anything easier, eh??? hehe

Corrie

The November Themed Challenge Insects is now Open for Voting, be sure to get your Votes in.

Voting will close Midnight Monday Night December the 3rd.

New Fractal Showcase Window is now up November Showcase

Excellent choices.
Thanks, Len. :-)

Corrie

Wow, tough decision this month.   Some really impressive work entered. 

Thank you again for the message, Len.

I'm very nice surprised for being in,
and about that we are treated to two "piano concertos in Em"!
LOL.

Quote - Thank you again for the message, Len.

I'm very nice surprised for being in,
and about that we are treated to two "piano concertos in Em"!
LOL.

Thanks for pointing that out, it's fixed now

WooHoo :woot: :tt1: :wub: :woot: Color me a Happy Camper...or a Happy Fractalist whatever. Christmas Eve and what did I get in the Mail?......My 2013 FractalForums Calendar, it's BIG and it's Beeyoutiful.....and I think it was hand carried all the way from Gremany as long as it took to get here.

Hey, it's pretty fast, considering it's the festive season! ;-)

Corrie